(PART 4/5) MAKE WORTHY MUSIC
I often hear critical remarks from people about Christian Music. This always piques my curiosity as someone who, at one time, tried to distance myself from Christian Music. After all, it was embarrassing to me. I especially avoided being associated with what is known as “CCM” (basically Christian pop radio). And then one day God called me out on that. He gave me the sense that even as a child I was being shaped to eventually serve in Christian Music. One of the things I heard in my heart was, “If you don’t like something about the music, change it.” I’ve been focusing my writing and producing efforts toward Christian Music ever since.
Circling back: Why is Christian music so often criticized by many of the very people it is aimed at? I've observed multiple reasons but I'll share one: Misplaced expectations. What is it that we are expecting "Christian Music" to do? It seems that nine times out of ten, criticism comes in the form of comparison to other genres of music. Comparing Christian Music to mainstream Pop, Rock, Country, etc., completely misses the point, IMHO. Christian music in American culture has never merely functioned as a genre of musical entertainment…at least not primarily. Much of its mission has essentially been aimed at connecting people with God and processing life through the lens of God's truth. It has always contained devotion, evangelism, and disciple-making as essential elements. I would argue that these are important and needed pieces.
Honestly, this topic is much bigger than this post and we can barely skim the surface here. But consider this helpful perspective from God's Word:
“…We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:9-10)
What if the criteria for what makes Christian music good was less about how it compares to mainstream music and more about whether or not it’s worthy of Christ? What if we made music in a "manner worthy of the Lord?"